IX. [(_b_)_ Jesus is Light_ (continued). (_δ_) Physical light given to the man born blind (John 9:1): The miracle itself (John 9:1). The objections of the Pharisees, and the witness of the sufferer (John 9:13) Physical light and darkness; spiritual light and darkness (John 9:35).]... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS JESUS PASSED BY. — Better, _And. as He was passing by._ The words are immediately connected with those of the preceding verse, “and went out of the Temple.” It was then, as He was leaving the Temple to escape the fury of His enemies who had taken up stones to cast at Him, and was passing by.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO DID SIN, THIS MAN, OR HIS PARENTS? — The disciples noticed that He looked at the man, and it may be that He halted as He was walking by. Their attention is directed to the sufferer, and with suffering they connect the idea of sin. They ask a question which may have come to them many times before... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED, NEITHER HATH THIS MAN SINNED, NOR HIS PARENTS. — The answer is, of course, to be understood with the limitation of the question, “that he was born blind.” Neither his special sin nor theirs was the cause of the blindness. Our version does not give quite accurately the form of the ans... [ Continue Reading ]
I MUST WORK THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT ME, WHILE IT IS DAY. — The better reading is probably that which has _we,_ instead of “I,” and perhaps also that which has _us,_ instead of “me”; but this latter change is not so well supported by MS. authority. The clause would read then, _We must work the wor... [ Continue Reading ]
AS LONG AS I AM IN THE WORLD, I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. — Better, _when I am in the world._ The thought is that the two things necessarily co-exist. He is the true Light, and this true Light cannot be in the world without shining in its darkness. (Comp. Note on John 1:5.) The thought is here clos... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ANOINTED THE EYES OF THE BLIND MAN WITH THE CLAY. — The words “blind man” are omitted in some of the older MSS. The marginal rendering, _and He spread the clay upon the eyes of the blind man_ (or, _upon his eyes_)_,_ is to be preferred. The details given in this and the next verse are evident... [ Continue Reading ]
GO, WASH IN THE POOL OF SILOAM. — Comp. Notes on John 5:2 (“Bethesda”), and on Luke 13:4 (“the tower in Siloam”). The locality is almost without doubt that now known by the Arabic form of the same name, the _Birket Silwân,_ which is in the lower Tyropæon valley, between the Temple mountain and Mount... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WHICH BEFORE HAD SEEN HIM THAT HE WAS BLIND. — The better reading is, _that he was a beggar._ The persons are the neighbours, who from living near him knew all about him, and those who used to see him at the spot where he sat begging. Both classes, of course, knew that he was blind. IS NOT THI... [ Continue Reading ]
(9)HE IS LIKE HIM. — The more probable reading is, _No; but he is like him._ It is not that these speakers agree with some hesitation with those who assert the identity. They oppose to it their own opinion, that it is a case of resemblance only. He himself sets the question at rest by declaring that... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW WERE THINE EYES OPENED? — They wonder at the change wrought in him, and seek to know how it happened. The question is important if we adopt the better reading, _beggar,_ for “blind,” in John 9:8, as showing that they knew he had been blind, the moment they knew that he was the same person who us... [ Continue Reading ]
A MAN THAT IS CALLED JESUS. — Some of the better MSS. read, “_The_ Man that is called Jesus,” implying that He would be known to the blind man and his friends. They can hardly have failed to hear of His teaching at the feast. MADE CLAY, AND ANOINTED MINE EYES. — He gives the details in order, omitt... [ Continue Reading ]
I KNOW NOT. — He had not returned to our Lord (John 9:7), who was passing by when He spoke to him (John 9:1), and by the time the man had gone to the pool and had returned would have gone beyond his knowledge.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY BROUGHT TO THE PHARISEES. — More exactly, _They bring_... The present tense speaks of what they did, as the writer thinks of it in actual occurrence. Their question in the previous verse, and the fact stated in the following verse, seem to indicate that they did this in the spirit of opposition... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT WAS THE SABBATH DAY — _i.e.,_ most probably, the last day, that great day of the feast of John 7:37. Nothing has taken place which makes it necessary to suppose any interval, and though the discourses seem long, they would have occupied but a short time in delivery. The whole narrative follow... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AGAIN THE PHARISEES ALSO ASKED. — As the neighbours and acquaintances had done before (John 9:10). HE SAID UNTO THEM, HE PUT CLAY UPON MINE EYES. — The answer is the same as before, but briefer. It is that of a man who is answering against his will (comp. John 9:27) and does not care to say mo... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS MAN IS NOT OF GOD, BECAUSE HE KEEPETH NOT THE SABBATH DAY. — See Note on John 9:14, and reference there. Here the truth of the miracle is granted, but it is urged that the power by which it is wrought cannot be of God, because it was exercised on the Sabbath day. The inference is, that it was d... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAY UNTO THE BLIND MAN AGAIN. — The question is not asked by either of the parties, for this must have been noted, but by the assembly generally. They who questioned him in John 9:15, question him again now. They have differed among themselves, and they ask what impression the fact of the mirac... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE JEWS DID NOT BELIEVE. — Better, _The Jews therefore did not believe._ The words are connected, as an inference, with those which precede. Because of this explanation of the fact, they are driven to the expedient of disbelieving the fact itself. The designation of those who take this position... [ Continue Reading ]
IS THIS YOUR SON, WHO YE SAY WAS BORN BLIND? — The “ye” is emphatic; _ye_ say he was born blind, as opposed to us, for we do not believe it. There are three questions. Is this your son? Do ye still say that he was born blind? which is incredible, as he now possesses the faculty of sight (John 9:32).... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW THAT THIS IS OUR SON... — The two earlier questions of matter of fact they can answer with certainty. They know, as none besides themselves can know, that he was their son, and they know the painful truth that he was born blind.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BY WHAT MEANS HE NOW SEETH. — Better, _but how he now seeth._ The answer is in the exact words of the question, which is not seen in our version. They will not pass beyond the plain matters of fact of which they were certain. OR WHO HATH OPENED HIS EYES. — They pass here to a fourth question, w... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE JEWS HAD AGREED ALREADY. — This does not imply a formal decree of the Sanhedrin, but an agreement on the part of the leaders which they had made known to the people, and which they would have had little difficulty in carrying into effect. The word rendered “agreed” occurs again in the New Te... [ Continue Reading ]
See Note on John 9:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN AGAIN CALLED THEY THE MAN THAT WAS BLIND. — He had not been present during the interview with his parents. They now wish him to believe that they have ascertained from his parents either that he was not their son, or that he was not really born blind. It is useless for him, therefore, to persis... [ Continue Reading ]
WHETHER HE BE A SINNER OR NO, I KNOW NOT. — The words, “or no,” are added to the text, but rightly complete the meaning. He, like his parents, will confine himself to matters of fact coming under his own certain knowledge. They had declared authoritatively that they knew this Man to be one whose lif... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THEY TO HIM AGAIN. — Failing to establish their denial of the fact, they repeat their questionings as to the means used. They hope, it may be, to detect some difference in the accounts, or something which they can construe into a charge against our Lord; or, perhaps, as some have suggested... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE TOLD YOU ALREADY, AND YE DID NOT HEAR. — The man becomes weary of this cross-questioning, the purpose of which is sufficiently clear to him. His first answer was in the fewest possible words (John 9:15, compared with John 9:7), and even these he will not repeat. There is some difficulty about... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THEY REVILED HIM. — The Greek word occurs only here in the Gospels. The other passages where it occurs in the New Testament are Acts 23:4; 1 Corinthians 4:12, and 1 Peter 2:23. It expresses the passionate outburst of their anger, which was excited by his question, and finds vent in heaping repr... [ Continue Reading ]
WE KNOW THAT GOD SPAKE UNTO MOSES. — Better, _We know that God hath spoken unto Moses._ “He was commissioned,” they would say, “by God, and received a revelation from God which remains to us.” They would press here, as before, the authority of the great Lawgiver, which to every Israelite was final.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY HEREIN IS A MARVELLOUS THING. — Several of the better MSS. read more emphatically, _the marvellous thing._ He again puts two contradictory positions — their assertion that they knew not by what authority Jesus did these things (whence He was), and the evident fact that He had opened his eyes. He... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WE KNOW THAT GOD HEARETH NOT SINNERS. — What they should have known, but asserted that they did not, he proceeds to declare. The argument of this and the two following verses may be stated in syllogistic form, thus: — (1) God heareth not sinners, but only those who worship Him and do His will. ... [ Continue Reading ]
SINCE THE WORLD BEGAN WAS IT NOT HEARD. — Literally, _from the world-age was it not heard._ The phrase is a reminiscence of Isaiah 64:4. (Comp. also Note on Luke 1:70.) THE EYES OF ONE THAT WAS BORN BLIND. — This differentiates the miracle from the others in cases of blindness, and still more from a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THIS MAN WERE NOT OF GOD. — His argument meets each of their assertions. His general assumption, admitted as a universal truth (John 9:31), had denied their assertion that this Man was a sinner. His conclusion now denies their assertion, “This Man is not of God” (John 9:16). HE COULD DO NOTHING... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU WAST ALTOGETHER BORN IN SINS. — Their reproach now takes the most malignant form, and shrinks not from casting in his teeth the calamity of his birth as the mark of special sin. “Thou didst come into the world,” these words mean, “bearing the curse of God upon thy face. Thou hast said that God... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS HEARD THAT THEY HAD CAST HIM OUT; AND WHEN HE HAD FOUND HIM. — There is no hint of time or place. We may naturally suppose that this seeking and finding on the part of our Lord followed immediately on the expulsion by the Pharisees. His parents had. for fear of the Pharisees, forsaken him; and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS HE, LORD, THAT I MIGHT BELIEVE ON HIM? — For “Lord” it would be better to read _Sir,_ as in John 4:11; John 4:19; John 5:7, _et. al._ The man does not express by it more than the reverence to a prophet or teacher. He recognises Him by the voice which he had heard before, and now for the first... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU HAST BOTH SEEN HIM, AND IT IS HE THAT TALKETH WITH THEE. — The answer reminds us of that to the woman of Samaria, “I that speak unto thee am He” (John 4:26); but here both the sense of sight and that of hearing are appealed to as conveying knowledge to the mind. There is a special fitness in th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, LORD, I BELIEVE. — The title is repeated, but now with the deeper meaning. His half-faith has passed into full conviction. The spiritual education has led him step by step from “the Man that is called Jesus” (John 9:11) to the confession that He is “a prophet” (John 9:17), and that He i... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JUDGMENT I AM COME INTO THIS WORLD. — These words arise immediately out of what has preceded. The beggar has passed from a state of physical blindness, and has received the faculty of sight. He has passed from a state of spiritual blindness, and has received the power to recognise and believe on... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME OF THE PHARISEES WHICH WERE WITH HIM. — The words in the preceding verse are not addressed specially to any one. The Pharisees would be still watching our Lord, and some had probably followed the beggar, expecting that our Lord would seek him, and hoping that the interview might furnish som... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE WERE BLIND, YE SHOULD HAVE NO SIN. — His answer is that He does not place them among those who are in this second sense blind. If they were among those “which see not” they would be conscious of their blindness, and would seek for spiritual light. They would ask, “Who is He, Lord, that we may... [ Continue Reading ]